Problem

The traditional method of constructing sports shoes involved piecing together different parts, which resulted in a less-than-perfect fit and was not sustainable. adidas wanted to create a shoe that would provide maximum performance benefits while also being environmentally friendly. To achieve this goal, adidas needed to re-engineer the knitting process of shoe uppers. The challenge was to find a way to knit the entire upper in one continuous piece while ensuring lightness, form-fitting, sustainability, and breathability. See how we did it here.

Solution

Adidas teamed up with Santoni Mecmor, the most complete knitwear machine in circular motion. Together they re-engineered the knitting process of shoe uppers using technical yarns and dedicated meshes for breathability and high performance. The result was adizero Primeknit - a first-of-its-kind running shoe that is digitally knitted in one continuous piece. This revolutionary design provides maximum performance benefits while also being environmentally friendly.

Impact

X% increase in sales since launch
X% reduction in waste due to controlled wastage and recycled yarns

This revolutionary design will forever change the way we engineer shoes, combining both premium innovation and maximum performance benefits.

Team

Team Member #1 - Lead Engineer
- Oversaw the re-engineering of the knitting process
- Collaborated with Santoni Mecmor to ensure seamless integration of technical yarns and dedicated meshes
Team Member #2 - Sustainability Specialist
- Ensured that the design was environmentally friendly by using recycled yarns and controlled wastage
- Collaborated with the engineering team to find sustainable solutions for every aspect of the shoe's design

Adidas Creates Eco-Friendly Knitted Shoe